Circuit-interrupting system.



A. L. HARVEY.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l7, I915.

1,221,050, Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR 62g Awe/1L. Harvey 7 AT.TORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. HARVEY, OF WILKINSBURG. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTUBIN G COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

crncurr-mrnnnurrmo SYSTEM.

' Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed February 17, 1915. Serial No. 8,872.

means for connecting a plurality of sources of constant current to a uting circuits.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for connecting any one of a plurality of sources of constant current in series with any one or all of the distributing circuits.

Another object .of my invention is to pro vide means for preventing the paralleling pluralityof distribof any two or more of the sources of constant current on any one of the distributing circuits.

Another object of my invention is to prevent the opening of any of the distributing circuits before the connection to its source of constant current has been short circuited.

A further object of my invention is to prevent the opening of a short circuited path until the source of current that is short circuited is connected to a distributing circuit.

The "single figure of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus embodying my "invention.

A plurality of transformers or other sources 1, 2 and 3 of alternating current is provided for supplying a plurality of distributing or series are lamp circuits 4, 5 and 6 with constant current. In order to supply the distributing circuits 4, 5 and 6 with constant current, to enable one or more of the distributing circuits to be connected in series with any one of. the transformers; to prevent. the paralleling of more than one transformer on one distributing circuit and to obviate the ill effects of opening the secondary winding of a constant current transformer or other source of constant current without first providing a short circuited path therefor, I provide a plurality of simirlar switch groups 7, 8 and 9.

I arrange the switch groups 7, 8 and 9 in sets of three in vertical alinementto constitute vertical sets 10, 11 and- 12 and in sets of three in horizontal alinement to constitute horizontal sets 7", 8* and 9. However, since there are as many vertical sets asthere are distributing circuits, and as many switch groups in a vertical set as there are sources of constant current, I do not limit my invention to groups of three, because any other desired number may be employed.

I provide vertical rods 13, 14 and 15 that are actuated by lever arms 16, Hand 18, respectively, through pin-and-slot connections with the vertical rods. The rods 13, 14 and 15 are provided for the purpose of so interlocking the'switch groups 7, 8 and 9 of the various vertical sets 10, 11 and 12 that only one of the switch groups of any one of the several vertical sets may be operated at one time. That is, if the group 9 of the vertical set 10 is operated, the groups 7 and 8 of that set are prevented from operation. However, any one group of either or both of the vertical sets 11 and 12 may be operated Without restriction. In order to facilitate this in terlocking action, each of the vertical rods 13, 14 and 15 is provided with three recesses 19, and 21 disposed at unequal distances pole switch 23 and an interlocking member 24. The double-pole switch 22 is provided with a projection 25 on one of the poles and with a projection 26 on the other pole thereof. The projection 26 constitutes one arm of a bell crank lever and has a rod 27 pivotally connected thereto that is adapted to engage one of the recesses 19, 20 and 21 of one of the vertical rods 13, 14 and 15, under pre determined conditions. The'interlocking device24 comprises a slidable member that is provided with asocket 28 and ashoulder 29. A projection 30 on the switch 23 is adapted to engage the socket 28 .for the purpose of' shifting the interlocking member 24 whenever it is actuated, and the shoulder 29 of the interlocking member 24 is adapted to engage the projection 25 of the switch .22 in either of its two positions. That is, when the switch 22 is open, the projection 25 prevents the shifting of the interlocking mem-. ber 24, and, when the switch 22 is closed, the interlocking member 24, by reason of the en,

gagement' of the projection 25 with the shoulder 29, prevents the opening of the switch22 until the switch 23 has been closed.

The switches 22 are severally provided with movable contact members 31 and 32 that engage stationary contact members 33 and 34, respectively. The contact members 33 and 34 are connected to the conductors of their respective circuits 4,5 and 6. Corresponding terminals of the transformers 1, 2 and 3 are connected, by conductors 35, 36 and 37, respectively, to the movable contact members 38 of the corresponding switches 23 of the vertical set 10. Each of'tlie contact members 38 is adapted to engage a stationary contact member 39.

The movable contact member 38 in each of the switch groups is connected electrically to the movable contact member 31 of its respective switch 22, and the stationary contact member 39 is connected to the movable contact member 32"of the switch 22. The stationary contact member 3901? each of the groups in the vertical set 10 is also connected, by a connector 40, to the movable contact member 38 of the corresponding group in the vertical set 11, and each of the stationary contact members 39 of the vertical set 11 is electrically connected, through a conductor 41, to the movable contact member 38 of the corresponding switch group of the vertical set 12. The stationary contact members 39 of the groups in the vertical set 12 are connected, through their. respective conductors 42, 43 and 44, to the remaining terminals corres ending to the transformers 1, 2 and 3.

As s own in the drawings, the circuit 4 is so connected to the transformer 3 that it is being supplied with energy and the other circuits 5 and 6 are open-circuited. It will be noted that all switches 23, except that in the group 9 of the vertical set 10, are so engaged that the transformers 1 and 2 are short-circuited. This willbe understood to be necessary, since it is considered to be an unwise procedure to open-circuit the secondary winding of a ser1es transformer while voltage is impressed upon the primary winding. It will be further noted that engagement of the rod 27 with the recess 21 permits the switch 22 of the group 9 to be closed. However, the switches 22 of the groups 7 and 8 of the vertical set 10 are held open by reason of the engagement of the rods 27 with the non-recessed portions of vertical rod 13.

If it is desired to connect the circuits 4, 5 and 6 in series with the transformer3, the lever arms 17 and 18 are actuated to permit the rods 27 of the groups 9 to engage the recesses 21 of their respective vertical rods 14 and 15. Then, the switches 22 of these groups only will be closed to complete the circuits from one terminal of the trans.- former 3 through the conductor 37, the mo'vable contact member 31 and the statihnary contact member 33 of switch 9 group 9, the circuit 4, the stationary contact mem- .ber 34 and the movable contact member 32 of the group 9, the conductor 40, the movable contact member 38 and the stationary contact member '39 of the group 9 of the set 11, the conductor 41, the movable contact member 38 and the stationary contact member (39 of the group 9 of the set 12 and the conductor 44 to the other terminal of. the transformer 3. The circuits 5 and 6 t are connected in parallel with the closed switches 23 and, for that-reason, may be assumed to be short. circuited. The switches 23 may now be thrown to disengage'the movable contact members 38 thereof from the stationary contact members 39. Then the circuit will extend from the transformer 3 through each of the circuits 4, 5 and 6, in series back to the other terminal of the transformer 3.

The switch groups 7 and 8 may be oper ated in amanner similar to that set forth with respect to the switch groups 9, it being understood that this operation can not occur when all of the switch groups 9 are actuated. However, the switchgroup 9 of'one vertical set may be actuated to connect the circuit 4 to the transformer 3,.and theswitch groups 7 and 8 of either of the vertical sets 11 and 12 may be actuated to connecttheir respective transformers to their respective i moved to the right to prevent an openingmovement of the switch 22. This, of-course, is done to prevent opening the secondary winding of a current transformer. The roj ection 25 on the switch 22 is provided or a similar purpose, in that it prevents disengagement of the contact members 38 and 39 until the switch 22 is closed.

I do not wish to be limited by any of the structural featuresspecifically set forth in this application inasmuch as many modifications may be made within the spirit. and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit-interrupting system comprisinga plurality of switch groups arranged in substantially vertical alinement, means for preventing the operation of more than one group at a time, said switch groups severally comprising a short-circuiting switch and a main switch, and means for so' interlocking the said switches that the said short-circuiting switch must be opened before the main switch is permitted to close.

2. A circuit-interrupting system comprising a plurality of switch groups arranged in a plurality of substantially vertical sets, means for preventing the operation of more than one group of each vertical set at a time, said groups severally comprising two switches and means for preventing the operation of one until the other has operated.

3. A circuit-interrupting system comprising a plurality of switch groups arranged in a plurality of substantially alined set-sand means for preventing the operation of more than one group in each alined set at one time.

4. A switch group for an electric circuit comprising a main double-pole switch, a single-pole switch and means for so interlocking the said switches that the single-pole switch must establish a short circuit before the double-pole switch is opened, and the double-pole switch must be closed before the single-pole switch can open the short circuit.

5. In a system of distribution, the com bination with a plurality of transformers and a plurality of distributing circuits, of means for connecting any one of the said transformers to any one or more of the circuits, and means for preventing the paralleling of the transformers on any one distributing circuit.

6. A switch group for an electric circuit comprising a main switch, an auxiliary switch and-means for so interlocking the said switches that the auxiliary switch must establish a short circuit before the main switch is permitted to open, and the main switch must be closed before the auxiliary switch can open the short circuit.

7. In a system of distribution, the combination with a plurality of constant-current transformers and a plurality of distributing circuits, of means for short circuiting the said transformers before the circuits are opened and for preventing the opening of the short circuit while the circuits are open.

8. In a system of distribution, the combination with a plurality of transformers and a plurality of distributing circuits, of means for short circuiting the said transformers before the circuits are opened and for preventing the opening of the short circuit while the distributing circuits are open, means for connecting any one or all of the said distributing circuits in series with any one of the transformers, and means for preventing the paralleling of the transformers on any one distributing circuit.

9. In a system of distribution, the combination with a plurality of'transformers and a plurality of distributing circuits, of means for short circuiting the said transformers before the circuits are opened and for preventing the opening of the short circuit while the circuits are open, and means for preventing the paralleling of the transformers on any one distributing circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of Feb. 1915..

ALBERT L. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

N. M. Home, B. B. HINES. 

